Sophomore Setters Sound Off

The Sophomore ID Camp wasn't just about identifying standout athletes on the court. It was also about highlighting the players who run the show. Setters are the quarterbacks of the team, responsible for tempo, decision-making, and bringing out the best in every hitter. Their ability to read the game, stay composed, and lead under pressure makes them essential to any successful squad.   To get a better sense of how they see the game and their role within it, I asked them a few questions to learn more about how they lead, compete, and elevate the team around them.    💡 How would you describe your role on the court, and what do you do to elevate the players around you? I would describe myself as focused. I help elevate the players around me by encouraging them after every play, no matter the outcome. I try to keep everyone confident and ready for the next point.   🧠 In high-pressure moments, what's your mindset and how do you stay composed? My mindset stays locked in. I take a deep breath, remind myself that I can do it, and focus on executing one play at a time.   💪🏽 What's something specific you've been working to add to your game this season, and why? I've been working on improving my set locations. Knowing how to place the ball in more spots helps create a stronger, more dynamic offense.   🌟 Off the court, how would your coaches and teammates describe you, and what personal qualities do you bring to a team culture? My teammates would describe me as funny and outgoing. I try to bring energy and positivity to every environment I'm in.   💥 What's a fun fact about you that you'd want college coaches to know? I have my own photography business called @mmadsmedia on Instagram.   ~ Michelle Bamford @Coachable247     💡 How would you describe your role on the court, and what do you do to elevate the players around you? My role on the court is to be a steady presence. I want to be someone my teammates can count on in high-pressure moments. I see myself as a connector. Whether it's keeping the energy up, facilitating communication, or making smart plays, I focus on being the glue that holds things together.   To elevate others, I focus on encouragement and accountability. I pay attention to what each teammate needs. Some respond to loud energy, others to quiet confidence, and I adjust how I support them. Whether it's setting the tone defensively, making a hustle play, or just being a positive voice, I lead by example and help everyone feel confident and locked in.   🧠 In high-pressure moments, what's your mindset and how do you stay composed? In moments like a tight fifth set or a crucial serve receive, I focus on staying present. I block out distractions, trust my training, and take things one play at a time. Volleyball moves fast, and if you dwell on mistakes or stress about outcomes, it can snowball quickly.   I stay composed by controlling my breath and keeping my body language calm and confident. I remind myself that my teammates are counting on me to stay steady. When I stay positive, communicate clearly, and stay locked in, it helps everyone else feel grounded too. Pressure is where leaders show up. It's not always about being loud, but about being consistent and dependable.   💪🏽 What's something specific you've been working to add to your game this season, and why? This season, I've been working on my consistency and communication. I want to be a player my teammates can count on every play. That means making smart decisions, staying vocal, and building strong connections with my hitters. I've also been putting in extra reps on my footwork and quick sets. As a setter, I help set the tone for the team, and I want to lead with calm, confidence, and competitiveness in every match.   🌟 Off the court, how would your coaches and teammates describe you, and what personal qualities do you bring to a team culture? They would describe me as positive, dependable, and hardworking. I try to bring good energy to every practice, and I'm always there to support my teammates. Whether that's cheering them on, helping with drills, or being someone they can count on, I show up. I bring a strong work ethic and leadership mindset to our team. I take responsibility, stay focused on our goals, and lead by example, even when things get tough.   💥 What's a fun fact about you that you'd want college coaches to know? I'm the founder of my own tween lip gloss company called C.London. I started it while balancing school and volleyball because I wanted to create something that helps girls feel confident and express themselves. It's taught me a lot about time management, leadership, and believing in my ideas both on and off the court.   ~ Michelle Bamford @Coachable247     💡 How would you describe your role on the court, and what do you do to elevate the players around you? I'm the leader on the court, and I'm definitely the loudest and most hype. I'm constantly communicating with my team, lifting them up, and celebrating every chance I get. I also help by sharing what I see on the other side of the net and talking through strategies or routes we should run.   🧠 In high-pressure moments, what's your mindset and how do you stay composed? I remind myself to stay calm, take a breath, and reset. One thing that helps is connecting with my teammates. Even something as small as a look or a high five keeps me grounded. I focus on positive self-talk and staying locked in so I can fix mistakes and bounce back on the next point.   💪🏽 What's something specific you've been working to add to your game this season, and why? I've been working on improving my net play, especially blocking and dumping. I recently started playing as a six-rotation setter, and I know I need to be just as aggressive and effective in the front row as I am in the back row.   🌟 Off the court, how would your coaches and teammates describe you, and what personal qualities do you bring to a team culture? They'd say I'm outgoing, bubbly, and never shy. I'm loud, I love to have fun, and I bring that energy to every part of the team experience. One of my best qualities is empathy. I really try to understand what others are feeling and help create a space where everyone feels supported.   💥 What's a fun fact about you that you'd want college coaches to know? I play flag football for my school too!   ~ Michelle Bamford @Coachable247     💡 How would you describe your role on the court, and what do you do to elevate the players around you? On the court, I'm the quarterback of the team. My job is to lift up those around me and help carry the team to success. I'm always the first to cheer after a point and set the tone for the day. I elevate my teammates by giving pep talks before games and cheering them on through all their successes.   🧠 In high-pressure moments, what's your mindset and how do you stay composed? I love high-pressure moments. I think it's exciting to play for something meaningful, whether it's a chance to win or help my team move up a division. In those moments, I focus on my mechanics and stay locked in with my team instead of getting distracted by the other side. I also think about playing for my team, not just myself, which helps fire me up and lead with purpose.   💪🏽 What's something specific you've been working to add to your game this season, and why? This season, I've been working on building better connections with my middles. I love setting different types of balls for them, like a gap or a back 1. Strengthening that connection played a huge role in helping us win Division 2 at our end-of-season tournament, and I think it's one of the most important pieces of a strong offense.   🌟 Off the court, how would your coaches and teammates describe you, and what personal qualities do you bring to a team culture? They'd describe me as positive and supportive. I love lifting others up, bringing smiles to every room, and staying optimistic. My energy helps boost the team culture and keeps us motivated to work hard and improve.   💥 What's a fun fact about you that you'd want college coaches to know? I'm a dual-sport athlete and play competitive travel softball at a high level. At JSerra, I played varsity volleyball and varsity softball. This year, I was part of our CIF softball run where we finished second in Division 2.   ~ Michelle Bamford @Coachable247     💡 How would you describe your role on the court, and what do you do to elevate the players around you? I believe I'm an encouraging presence on the court. I do my best to support my teammates and give our hitters the best opportunities to score. I focus on staying consistent and positive in every play.   🧠 In high-pressure moments, what's your mindset and how do you stay composed? I remind myself that I'm a great volleyball player and try to stay calm. I focus on my role and trust my ability to execute it. Staying present helps me lead with confidence when it matters most.   💪🏽 What's something specific you've been working to add to your game this season, and why? I've been working on transitioning from standard setting to jump setting. It's been a slow process, but it keeps blockers off balance and adds more speed to our offense. It's helped us create faster and more unpredictable attacks.   🌟 Off the court, how would your coaches and teammates describe you, and what personal qualities do you bring to a team culture? I have more of a quiet personality, but I'm kind and encouraging. I bring high effort, a calm attitude, and steady support to the team. I try to lead through consistency and effort.   💥 What's a fun fact about you that you'd want college coaches to know? I journal and write down my goals and affirmations to keep my mental game strong. It helps me clear my thoughts and stay focused on what's important to me.   ~ Michelle Bamford @Coachable247     💡 How would you describe your role on the court, and what do you do to elevate the players around you? My role on the court is to be a team leader. I make sure to encourage and support my teammates throughout every match. I stay positive and lift them up after every point, no matter the result.   🧠 In high-pressure moments, what's your mindset and how do you stay composed? I stay composed by focusing on the next point instead of the last one. I stick to my serve routine to stay grounded and focused on what comes next.   💪🏽 What's something specific you've been working to add to your game this season, and why? I've been doing strength training at the gym and adding plyometrics to improve my explosiveness. I've also been focusing on consistent setting and learning not to broadcast my sets to blockers. I'm doing all of this because I want to get faster, stronger, and become a well-rounded player.   🌟 Off the court, how would your coaches and teammates describe you, and what personal qualities do you bring to a team culture? My coach, Curtis, says I'm calm under pressure, very coachable, and a team leader. My teammates would say I'm always positive in huddles and focused on winning. I bring leadership and encouragement to our team culture.   💥 What's a fun fact about you that you'd want college coaches to know? I want to become a lifeguard next year!   ~ Michelle Bamford @Coachable247     💡 How would you describe your role on the court, and what do you do to elevate the players around you? As a setter, my main job is to run the offense. I decide who gets the ball and when, with the goal of putting our hitters in the best position to score. I elevate my teammates by delivering consistent, accurate sets that build their confidence. I also stay vocal, give feedback, and adjust strategy based on the game flow and the other team's defense. It's all about teamwork and making sure everyone has what they need to shine.   🧠 In high-pressure moments, what's your mindset and how do you stay composed? I stay calm by trusting my training. I remind myself to breathe, stay present, and focus on the fundamentals. It's easy to feel pressure, but I try to block out distractions and lock in on what needs to be done. Positive self-talk helps too. I tell myself I'm prepared and capable, and that keeps my confidence steady when the pressure rises.   💪🏽 What's something specific you've been working to add to your game this season, and why? I've been working on consistency and accuracy when setting from different spots on the court. I want to be able to deliver quality sets from anywhere so our hitters have more options and the defense stays off balance. Better consistency creates more scoring chances for the team.   🌟 Off the court, how would your coaches and teammates describe you, and what personal qualities do you bring to a team culture? They'd say I'm calm, cool, and collected. I bring a sense of stability to our team culture. I try to be a steady presence, especially in pressure situations, and help everyone stay focused and confident. That relaxed vibe helps us play our best.   💥 What's a fun fact about you that you'd want college coaches to know? I can blow perfect bubble rings underwater. It's a random skill, but it shows my focus, breath control, and ability to stay calm under pressure in a literal way.   ~ Michelle Bamford @Coachable247     💡 How would you describe your role on the court, and what do you do to elevate the players around you? My role on the court is to run the offense and make sure everyone is on the same page so we can work together. I focus on keeping the energy up and staying positive to help encourage my teammates. That helps build confidence and trust in our connection.   🧠 In high-pressure moments, what's your mindset and how do you stay composed? In high-pressure moments, I try to show leadership by keeping our plays in system and staying focused on the next point. I stay composed by using a next-play mindset and remembering that I'm playing for my team. Having a positive, growth-focused mindset is essential.   💪🏽 What's something specific you've been working to add to your game this season, and why? I've been working on connecting with my hitters and spreading the offense. I focus on learning what each hitter needs, running different plays, and adjusting tempos to get everyone involved and unpredictable.   🌟 Off the court, how would your coaches and teammates describe you, and what personal qualities do you bring to a team culture? They would describe me as hardworking and dedicated. I bring confidence and friendliness to our team, making sure everyone feels included and that volleyball stays fun while we stay focused on our goals.   💥 What's a fun fact about you that you'd want college coaches to know? I started playing volleyball in 4th grade right before the COVID shutdown. I learned the game by hitting against a wall in my living room.   ~ Michelle Bamford @Coachable247     💡 How would you describe your role on the court, and what do you do to elevate the players around you? As a setter, I'm expected to bring energy and positivity to the court. I love making my teammates laugh and creating strong chemistry, because without it, we wouldn't compete as hard as we do. On the technical side, I make the calls and strategize to deceive the block. My offense trusts me, and I make sure each of my hitters has a job on every play to help us earn the point.   🧠 In high-pressure moments, what's your mindset and how do you stay composed? When the game gets tense, I remind myself that we play best when we're loose. My focus shifts from the scoreboard to my teammates' energy. I'll crack a joke or make a silly face...anything to help the team reset. I also look for big plays that can swing the momentum and get us back in rhythm.   💪🏽 What's something specific you've been working to add to your game this season, and why? I've been working on my jump setting. It's still new for me, but I've been practicing it whenever I can to add speed and deception to our offense.   🌟 Off the court, how would your coaches and teammates describe you, and what personal qualities do you bring to a team culture? At one of our tournaments, my team voted me the funniest, so I think they appreciate my humor. They'd also say I'm loyal and supportive, showing up for them through the ups and downs. My coaches would describe me as hardworking and balanced, I know when to be serious and when to have fun.   💥 What's a fun fact about you that you'd want college coaches to know? 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Thank you for making today's wins matter — one article, one player, one memory at a time.   ~ Michelle Bamford @Coachable247

The Sophomore ID Camp wasn't just about identifying standout athletes on the court. It was also about highlighting the players who run the show. Setters are the quarterbacks of the team, responsible for tempo, decision-making, and bringing out the best in every hitter. Their ability to read the game, stay composed, and lead under pressure makes them essential to any successful squad.